Envelop-machine.



G. P. TAYLOR. ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1910.

984,451 Patented Feb. 14,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEYS.

G. P. TAYLOR.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB. 9, 1910.

4 HHEBTB-BHEET 4.

Patented Feb. 14, 191 1.

/ I A TTOIENEYS.

WITNESSES: LIQM y M GEORGE P. TAYLOR, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOP-MACHINE.

Original application filed October 13, 1909, Serial No. 522,402.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Divided and this application filed February 9,

1910. Serial No. 542,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnome I. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEnvelop-lliachines, of which the following is a specification, the samebeing a divisional part of an application filed by me in the UnitedStates Patent Office on the 13th day of October, 1909, Serial No.522302.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for making en'vclops,and more particl'llarly to pressure-applying mechanism for the foldedblanks or envelops, discharging mechanism for the cnvelops by means ofwhich they are transferred-from the folding-box to the chute, anddelivery mechanism for the envelops by means of which they are movedforward from the chute into the receiving trough.

Briefly my invention resides in certain peculiar operating mechanism fora vertically-rcciprocating plunger which presses the folded blanks orenvelops to insure the sticking of the gummed flap to the end flaps andwhich is the folding-plunger, such mechanism including means forbalancing said plunger to a considerable degree, or for providing abalanced motion therefor; a reciprocating and tilting folding-bed ortrap, provided with knock-oil fingers, for discharging the envelops intothe chute; and improved mechanism for delivering the envelops to thereceiving trough, such mechanism consisting in part of top and bottomdisappearing back-stops which permit the envelops to be pushed into suchtrough by the presser-arm, all as hereinafter set forth.

The objects of my invention are, first, to regulate to better advantagein an envelop machine the amount of pressure on the folded blanks orenvelops; second, to protect the folding-plunger mechanism from injury;third, to increase the certainty, safety, and facility with which thefolded envclops are removed from the folding-box, this result beingattained through the medium of mechanism which drops the trap somedistance vertically while in a level position and before tilting it, sothat said trap can carry each envelop clear of the walls of thefolding-box, and consequently enables the folding-plunger to assist inthe envelopdischarging operation b forcing from said box said envelopcarried away and discharged by said trap, since a portion of thedownward movement of said plunger is thus permitted to be utilized forthis purpose-it may be noted, too, in passing, that the tilting actionof said trap or its mechanism operates the knock-off fingers without anyoutside contact being required; fourth, to provide comparatively simplebut entirely effectual means for taking care of the folded envelops atthe delivery point of the machine, and, fifth, to produce an envelop machine which not only possesses all of the advantages herein pointed out,but is simple in its operation, makes less noise than other machines,and is strong, durable, easy to keep in repair and running order andcondition, and withal practicable and el'licient.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages herein pointed out by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in \vhich- Figure 1is a front elevation of portions of an envelop machine in which isembodied a practical form of my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation ofthe portions of the machine shown in the preceding view; Fig. 3, adetail showing the plunger-operating mechanism from the inside of themachine looking toward the right-hand side; Fig. 1, a section on lines12-42, looking in the direction of the arrow, in Fig. 7 ig. 5, anenlarged detail of the delivery mechanism, taken on lines 2222, lookingin the direction of the arrow, in Fig. (5; Fig. (3, a bottom view ofsaid delivery mechanism; Fig. 7, an enlarged front elevation of thedischarging mechanism, the middle portions of the connecting membersbeing broken out, and, Fig. 8, an enlarged side elevation of saiddischarging mechanism, with portions broken out as in the Viewimmediately preceding, said elevation being taken insi de of the machinelooking toward the left and showing the two extreme positions of saidmechanism in which latter are included the trap and the knock-oftfingers.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

First considering the frame and other supporting parts of the machine,it will be obthe upper surface of the floor of which is level with thecorresponding surface of such table. The sides 2 of the frame may bestiifened by means of cross-pieces to whatever extent is necessary, andprovided with whatever supporting parts are required, but some of theparts and members have been omitted from the drawings in order to avoidobstructing essential elements which appertain more directly to theinvention, and for this reason as well as for lack of space, too,portions of the frame, the table 11, and other elements have been brokenoff or broken away.

The chute 13 comprises two side pieces that are adjustably supportedfrom two rods 15, depending from the table 1, by means of slottedangle-irons 1616 secured to said sides on the outside, and clips 1717clamped on to said rods. Slots 20 in the angle-irons 16, through whichscrews 21 pass to fasten said angleirons to the side pieces of the chute13, enable the latter to be adjusted forward or backward, and slots 22in said angle-irons, through which screws 23 pass to fasten theangle-irons to the clips 17, enable said side pieces to be adjustedlaterally. Vertical adjustment can also be effected by loosening theclips 17 and moving them up or down on the rods 15. Screws which clampthe clips 17 to the rods 15 are represented at 17. The chute opens atthe top into the folding-box as usual, and at the bottom into the trough1 1.

Journaled in the sides 2, below the horizontal plane of the table 11,and in the center of the machine, is a main-driving and cam shaft 24L.Parallel with each other and with the shaft 24L are two shafts 25 and 26which are mounted in the sides 2 forward of said shaft 2 1. The shaft 25is above the horizontal plane of the shaft 24, and the shaft 26 belowsuch plane. The main shaft 2 1, in practice, may be equipped with theusual driving-pulley, clutch, and balance or hand-wheel, although theprecise manner of and means for actuating said shaft is not material tothe present invention.

The folding mechanism for the envelops, or rather for the blanks out ofwhich the envelops are made, with the exception of two members presentlyto be described, is omitted, since it forms no part of my invention, isold and well-known, and is not needed for a full and clear understandingof said invention. The last-mentioned omitted parts are the foldersthemselves and the mechanism which operates them, the location of theformer being in the center of the table 1 between the posts 10.

The parts of the machine thus far de scribed are generally very similarto corresponding parts in other types or styles of envelop machines,excepting in so far as such parts are more or less directly influencedby the new features or combine more or less intimately with them.Having, now, very fully explainedthe aforesaid parts, I will next takeup in detail the description of the several new features in both theirstructure and function, commencing with the folding-plunger-operatingmechanism.

Having special reference to the first three views, it will be observedthat two vertically-reciprocating rods 177 are arranged in the hollowposts 10, and that a crosshead 178 for a folding-plunger 179 connectssaid rods at the top. The folding-plunger 179 is a vertical membersupported in the center of the cross-head 178, depending some dis tancebelow the same, and having a foldingplate 180 at the base. This plungeris also for compression purposes, and it is its use in this capacitywith which I have to do more particularly in the present invention.Vertical bolts forming stop pins 181181 are tapped into the ends of thecross-head 178, over the tops of the posts 10, to limit the downwardmovement of said cross-head when they encounter said posts, the amountof such movement being changed by adjusting said pins in saidcross-head.

The rods 177 are reciprocated by the following means and in thefollowing manner: Connected at their upper ends by a pin 182 to the baseof each of the rods 177 are two rods 183 and 184, the rod 188 being theinner one. Each rod 183 has a link 185 at the bottom, which link ismerely for the purpose of providing means for said rod to clear theshaft 2 1 without weakening the rod. A stud 186 projects inward fromeach side piece 2, and loose on such stud is a double rockerarm membercomprising a long arm 187 and a short arm 188. The arms 187 and 188extend forward, and each of the former is pivotally connected at 189with the base of the adjacent link 185, a roll 190 being interposed onthe pivot immediately contiguous to the outside face of said link. Therockerarms 187 and 188 are tensioned upwardly by means of two rods 191having their upper ends pivoted at 192 to the front ends of the shortarms 188 and their lower terminals loose in the inwardly-turned portionsof two brackets 193 on the inside of the side-pieces 2, through which.inturned portions said rods are adapted to reciprocate freely, andsprings 194 encircling said rods between said inturned portions of thebrackets and collars 195 on the rods, such collars being adjustable andso providing for changing the tension of said springs. The eyes in thelinks 185, through-which the shaft 24L extends, are curved so as toenable the rods 183 to be swung on the pivots 182 by the ac tion of therocker-arms 187 as they oscillate on the studs 186. The base of each rod181 is pivoted at 196 to the rear end of a cam arm 197 loose on theshaft 25. A roller 198 is mounted on a stud or pin 199 carried by eacharm 197 below the pivot 196. A cam 200 is fast on the main-shaft 24under the roll 198. The high part of each cam 200 is widened by a shoe201 securely attached to said cam on the inside, such shoe normallybeing over the link roll 190.

The cams 200 when in motion, assisted by gravity, cause thefolding-plunger 179 to be reciprocated through the medium of the arms197, rods 18 1 and 177, and the crosshead 17 8, and to be brought downpositively at the end of its downward travel each time through themedium of the shoes 201, the rolls 190 and the rods 183. That this lastmay be fully comprehended, it should be observed that the weight of thefolding-plunger members is supported by the rolls 198 on the cams 200excepting just before said plunger reaches the end of its downwardstroke when there is or may be, assuming the machine to be engaged inthe work of folding envelops, atendency to stop short of such end of thestroke, and it is at this time that the shoes 201 act to tinishpositively said stroke and insure the sticking of the flaps of thefolded envelop beneath the fol ding-plate 180. The shoes 201 operatewhile the rolls 198 are on or above the low parts of the cams 200. Therockerarms 187, upwardly spring-pressed as they are, serve to steady themovement of the canboperated and more especially the shoe-operatedparts, and as balancing mediums for the reciprocating members.

In the event that some obstacle gets into the folding-box or someobstruction otherwise interferes with the downward movement of theplunger 179, the rolls 190 are not carried low enough to be ridden downby the shoes 201, but the latter pass under said rolls, instead of overthem, either in or out of contact therewith according to their location,wherefore said plunger is not forced to complete its down stroke orfurther depressed and all liability is obviated of breakage or otherinjury to the machine from such obstacle or obstruction. After gettingrid of the interfering medium the folding-plunger-operating mechanismresumes its former action.

Taking up next the discharging mechanism, which depends for itsoperation on two cams 202 and 203 fast to the main shaft 2 1 in thecenter, as illustrated to the best advantage in lfiigs. 4, 7 and 8,attention is again called to the fact that this mechanism has to do withthe bottom of the folding-box which cooperates in a way with thefolding-plate 180. In the table 1 below the folding-plate 180 is anopening 201, and arranged to operate in this opening is afolding-bed ortrap 205 which is the aforesaid folding-box bottom. The trap 205 .isprovided at the rwar with two pairs of depending lugs 206 and at thefront with a pair of depending lugs 207. Two links 208 connect the trap205 with the table 1, the front end of each of said links being pivotedat 209 between the lugs 200 in each pair, and the rear end of such linkbeing pivoted at 210 to a bracket 211 on the underside of the table. Acam arm 212 is mounted loose at its front end on the shaft 25, and isprovided with a roll 213 which rides on the cam 203, such roll beingmounted on a stud or pin 214 set in said arm a short distance from therear end thereof. As a means for connecting the rear end of the arm 212with the trap 205, l employ in this case two side rods 215 which dependfrom the pivots 209, two side bars 21() to the outturned tops of whichthe lower terminals of said rods are fastened by nuts 217 threaded tosaid lower terminals one above and one below each of such outturned topsor cars, a stiffening plate or cross-piece 218 connecting said rodsbetween said ears and the upper nuts, and a pivot pin 219 which connectsthe lower ends of said bars with each other and with said rear end ofsaid arm, sleeves 220 and 221 being used on said pin between said barsand said arm to separate them and add rigidity to the structure.

Loosely mounted at its front end on the shaft 25, at the right of thecam arm 212, is a cam arm 222 which has a roll 22?) mounted on a stud orpin 221-, at the rear end to ride on the cam 202. A connertingrod 225has its base pivoted at 220 to the rear end of the arm 222 above thestud 22 t, and is provided at its upper end with a head 227. A lug 22Srises from the center of the head 227 between the lugs 207 to be pivotedthereto at 229, two uprights 230 rise straight up from the sides of saidhead into the interior of the trap 205, and a corresponding number ofcurved rests 2231 extend rearwardly and upwardy from the head to supportthe back part of said trap when and while the trap is in its horizontalposition, the trap then receiving and bearing on said rests at pointsjust inside of the inner lugs 200.

The trap 205 is provided with two knockoff fingers 232, each having aslot 233 in its body portion and a hook 234- at its rear end to engagethe back edge of an envelop on said trap, and being pivoted intermediateof its ends at 235 against the inside face of one of the inner lugs 206a little below the top of said trap. A pin 236 extends outward from eachupright 230 near the top into the slot 233 in the adjacent finger 232. Aslot 237 iscut in the top of the trap 205 for each finger 232, such slotbeing so positioned as to enable the hooked portion of said finger tooperate in and out of the same from below or to strike upward andforward through said slot and then recede below said trap top.

Owing to the construction and weight of the parts which bear on the cams202 and 203, gravity alone may be depended on to keep the rolls 223 and213, respectively, on said cams at all times.

The shape of the cams 202 and 203 is such that during more than half ofeach revolution they maintain the trap mechanism in the positions shownin full and dotted lines in Figs. 4, 7 and 8, with the trap 205 at itshighest point approximately on a level with the top of the table 1, thensaid cams continue their rotation and lower portions of theirperipheries pass beneath the rolls 223 and 213 the arms 222 and 212 andthe connecting-rod 225 and connections between said arm 212 and the lugs206 drop together an equal distance and depress said trap withouttilting it, the trap being drawn toward the rear a little way, however,by the links 208 which swing down, and finally upon further rotation ofthe cams and as the low part of the cam 202 passes beneath the roll 223and the adjacent higher part of the cam 203 passes beneath the roll 213the front of the trap is depressed sharply and the knock-off fingers 232are suddenly thrown up through the slots 237 into an approximatelyvertical position, all as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 8.These operations first take an envelop on the trap entirely out of theway of the folding mechanism and everything above said trap, and thenunfailingly discharge said envelop into the chute 13. In tilting, thetrap fulcrums on the links 208, also on the connection between the trapand the arm 212, and the relative positions of the pins 236 and pivots235 change so that the former occupy positions in what were formerly theback ends instead of the front ends of the slots 233 and are under saidpivots, resulting in the throwing up of the fingers 232. The rests 231also pass away from the trap at this time, it not now being necessarythat their function be exercised. Upon com pleting the revolution of thecams the movements just described are reversed and the trap and fingersrestored to initial or nor mal positions, the cam 202 operating first toelevate the trap and withdraw the fingers into said trap, and both camsoperating then to elevate the trap to the receiving place in the table1.

The relation of the trap-operating mechanism to thefolding-plunger-operating mechanism is such, that is, the parts are sotimed, that the trap does not begin to descend until after thefolding-plunger, under the impulse imparted to it by the shoes 201, hascompressed and thoroughly sealed the envelop, and then said trap doesnot act to discharge the envelop into the chute until saidfoldingplunger has acted to force the envelop down out of thefolding-box. This last result is made possible by the permitted gravityac tion of the folding-plunger and its carrying parts, limited by thestop pins 181. The shoes 201 maintain their influence over thefolding-plunger long enough for the trap to begin its descent whileunder pressure from said plunger.

The last mechanism to be described is that which delivers the envelops,one at a time, from the chute 13 to the receiving trough 14. Thismechanism comprises a sweep or presser-arm 238 which moves the envelopforward, and top and bottom back-stops 239 and 240, respectively,arranged in pairs. In this connection see Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. Thepresser-arm 238 has a plate 241 at the upper end which is designed tosweep an envelop forward into the trough 14 from the chute 13. The baseof the presser-arm 238 is rigidly attached to a projection 242 at theright-hand end of a sleeve 243 loose on a horizontal stud 244. Saidsleeve is secured at its right-hand end to a bracket 245 which isfastened firmly to the fixed shaft 26. Mounted on the stud 244 andrigidly attached to a projection 246 at the opposite end of the sleeve243 is an upwardly-extending cam arm 247 provided at its free terminalwith a stud or pin 248 upon which is mounted a roll 249. The roll 249bears on a cam 250 tight on the main shaft 24. The arm 247 has a forwardextension 251 and is tension-ed toward the cam 250 by means of a spring252 which connects said extension with acollar 253 fast on the fixedshaft 25 above. From this it is seen that as the cam 250 revolves thearm 247 is caused to oscillate and to rock the presser-arm 238 back andforth on the stud 244, through the medium of the sleeve 243.

The floor of the trough 14 is provided at the rear with two hollowextensions 283 spaced apartand having their upper surfaces curveddownward slightly from front to back, as seen to best advantage in Fig.5, and it is these curved surfaces that extend under the chute 13 toreceive the envelops as they slide down said chute in front of theposition which the plate 241 occupies when the presserarm 238 is thrownway back. Two inner flanges 254 on the side pieces which comprise thechute 13, adjacent to the back edges of such side pieces, constitute therunway for the envelops, and the sides of the trough 14 at the back endare provided with inner flanges 255 which are generally horizontal, andthe plate 241 oscillates between a position behind the front faces ofsaid flanges 254, passing under them, and a position in advance of theback-stops 239 and 240, and between the extensions 283 and said flanges255, inwardly to carry an envelop in front of said plate from the chuteinto said trough, and rearwardly to take position for another envelop.The usual weighted block (not shown) is employed in the trough 14against which the envelops are pressed as they are fed forward into saidtrough, and it is for the purpose of supporting the envelops behind,when the plate 241 moves rearwardly, that the back stops 239 and 240 areprovidec. The presser-arm 238 plays back and forth in the space betweenthe extensions 283.

The flanges 255 overcome any tendency which an envelop might have toride up while being deposited in the trough let by the presser-arm plate241, and each has an ear 256 which is fastened against the inside faceof one of the walls of said trough by a screw 257 that passes through aslot 258 in such wall into threaded engagement with said ear, the usualwasher being interposed between the wall and the head of said screw. Bythis means the flanges 255 can be adjusted to give the proper amount ofclearance between them and the extensions 283 for the envelops. Eachstop 239 is pivoted at 259 to one of the flanges 255 at the back end ofa slot 260 therein, and is so arranged that it normally hangs downthrough such slot and bears against said back edge to support frombehind and at the top envelops in the trough, but swings up into saidslot when pressure is applied from the rear by the plate 2&1 to admit anenvelop being swept forward thereby into said trough. The operation ofthese gravity stops will be clearly apprehended from an inspection ofFig. 5.

More substantial back-stops, automatically operated otherwise than bythe direct contact therewith of an envelop borne forward by the plate241 and gravity, are required to hold in place at the bottom theenvelops in the trough 14, and such are found in the members 240including the operating mechanism therefor. Referring more particularlyto Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that each stop 240 is so arranged inone of the extensions 283 as to project normally through a slot 261' insuch extension above the floor thereof; that such stop has a lip 262 atthe front end to prevent it from rising too far out of said slot, andhas a slot 263 in its rear end to receive a horizontal pin 26 i fixed inthe inner wall of the extension and a bar 265 in said extension parallelwith and adjacent to said inner wall; and that said stop is pivotedintermediate of its ends, at 266, to the rear terminal of abell-crank-lever 267. It will be seen, further, that thebell-crank-levers 267 are pivoted at 26S-26S to the bars 265, and havepins 269-269 projecting from their front terminals toward each other,sufficient space being left between adjacent ends of said pins for anoperating bar 270. This bar extends longitudinally beneath the trough 14and is slidingly mounted in the vertical parts of two hangers 271 and272 which extend forward, the former farther than the latter, and thendownward, from a supporting part 273 of the machine frame. The bar 270passes through a slot 27a in the hanger 272, which slot is long enoughto allow said bar to move up and down therein.' The upper edge of thebar 270 is cut away at 275, where said bar passes through the hanger27]., to receive a stop 276 fastened against the front end of saidhanger. The stop 276 limits the longitudinal movement of the bar 270 andespecially its rearward travel, and said bar is held normally with thefront end of the cut-away portion 27 5 against said stop by means of aspring 277 which extends between a pin 27 S at the front of the bar anda fixed point on the hanger 271. The back end of the aforesaid bar is inthe form of a cam-head 279 which extends on both sides of the bar andinclines upwardly and rearwardly from the lower front edges. Thearrangement and construction of these parts are such that the cam-head279, when in normal position, is directly behind the pins 269 with theirjuxtaposed terminals immediately adjacent to the bottom edges of saidhead. Having its front end pivoted at 280 to the bar 27 O is anactuating dog or arm 281 for said bar, which arm extends from itspivotal point backward through the hanger 272 into the path of travel ofthe presser-arm 238.

In practice, when the presser-arm 23S swings forward and before itarrives at the exposed or protruding parts of the backstops 240 abovethe extensions 283 said arm encounters the dog or arm 281, and forces itforward with the attached bar 270, against the resiliency of the spring277. As the bar 27 0 advances the cam-head 279 passes under the pins 269and so raise them and rocks the bell'crank-levers 267, with the resultthat the latter actuate the stops 240 backward and at the same timedownward on the pins 264: until they disappear entirely within the slots261 or below the upper surface of the extensions 283. This disappearancetakes place in ample time for the plate 241' to move over the positionswhich the stops 2 10 occupy when elevated. Immediately the cam-head 279passes the pins 269 the front ends of the bell-crank-levers 267 drop,with said pins behind said cam-head, and the stops 240 are moved upwardand forward by said bell-crank-levers into active position again, inreadiness to support from behind the envelops in the trough 14 as soonas the plate 241 swings back. There are slots in the bottom edge of theplate 2 11 to accommodate the stops 240 so that said plate can return toinitial position while the envelop which it has just advanced in frontof said stops cannot return, but is then ,backed by these stops and thestops 239. The slots in the plate 241 for the stops 240 appear at282-282, in Fig. 1. Upon the return of the presser-arm and theconsequent release of the arm 281 and the bar 270 to the spring 277,said arm 281 and bar move back into their former or normal positions,the back side of the cam-head 279 contacting with the pins 269, and saidhead now riding up over said pins, instead of the latter riding up overthe cam-head as was done in the first place, the slot 274: in the hanger272 permitting the necessary amount of vertical movement or upwardinclination on the part of said bar and the connection between the barand the hanger 271 and stop 276 being sufliciently loose for thepurpose. The parts of the bell-crank-levers that carry the pins 269cannot go any lower, after the lips 262 of the stops 240 strike theextensions 288 adjacent to the slots 261, so necessarily the cam-headrides over said pins, as explained, and takes position behind them inreadiness to engage said pins and operate the associated parts when nextthe presser-arm is actuated forward.

The complete operation of so much of the machine as is herein shown anddescribed, as a whole, will be pretty generally understood from theforegoing description of the several members and mechanisms, butfollowing are a recapitulation and brief de scription of such operation,it being assumed that the machine has been set in motion, and that agummed blank has been delivered be neath the folding-plunger 179 andover the folding-box. The folding-plunger now descends and with itsplate 180 forces the blank on to the trap 205. Here the now upstandingflaps are turned down or folded in by the folding mechanism hereinbeforealltfded to, with the gummed flap over the two end flaps. Meanwhile thefolding-plunger rises. At about the same time that the foldingplungerbegins to rise, or possibly a little before, the operation of the trap205 occurs. At the time of such occurrence the first blank is held byits upstanding flaps in the foldingbox, and said trap is up in placeagain to support said blank by the timesaid plunger is out of the wayand the folders commence to operate, the formation and arrangement ofthe cams 200, 202 and 203 being such as to insure the aforesaid results.Next a second blank is fed beneath the plunger, and the plunger forcesit down onto the trap 011 top of the folded envelop already there, theshoes 201 causing said envelops to be compressed between said trap andthe plate 180 and the gummed flap to be firmly and thoroughly stuck tothe end flaps. Now the trap descends and tilts and the knock-off fingers232 are thrown up the second time with the result that the envelop isdischarged into the chute 13, arriving at the bottom of said chute 111front of the presser-arm plate 2&1. During the first cycle of themachine the presserarm 238 had no work to do, but during the secondcycle of the machine and every subsequent cycle said arm moves anenvelop forward into the trough 14E, actuating the back stops 239 and240 out of the way, and swings back, leaving said stops to support theenvelop or envelops in said trough from behind. The delivery of thefirst envelop to the trough is the final act which the machine performsduring the making of the first and every subsequent envelop. The cam 250brings about the proper operation of the presser-arm.

The above-described operations are repeated for each envelop and thecompressing, discharging and delivering continue as long as the machineis in motion and the supply of blanks is maintained.

It is pertinent to observe, in connection with the action of themachine, that the envelops are delivered by the machine at every cycleexcepting the first and last envelops of the run; for each of theselatter the machine must perform two cycles or at least a cycle and ahalf, because two down strokes of the folding-plunger are required foreach envelop, the first to depress the blank ready for folding, and thesecond to compress the blank after being folded. But inasmuch as saidplunger operates on a folded blank and an unfolded blank at once, afterthe first and until the last, there is an envelop ready to be dischargedand delivered at every cycle excepting the first one. At the first cycleof the run the foldingplunger acts on one blank, and at the last cycleof such run the same thing is true, the last blank being a folded blank,however, while the first was in sheet form which had its flaps turned upby said plunger at the initial down stroke of the latter. The action ofthe machine is very rapid and the envelops are turned out speedily andwithoutloss of time.

The table 11 is for the convenience of the operator when the trough 14becomes full.

The envelops when they leave this machine are complete with theexception of the gumming of their sealing flaps.

Although the machine herein shown and described is practical andeflicient in every particular, it is obvious to one skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the nature of my invention, hence I do not wish or intendto be restricted or confined exactly or too closely to the aforesaidconstruction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a folding-plunger rodmounted for Vertical motion in the machine, cam-engaging meanscomprising two members pivotally connected with said rod, and suitablepositioning means fO l such members to guide and limit their pivotalmovement, of a suitably mounted cam adapted to elevate said rod, throughthe medilnn of one of said members, and provided with a shoe on one sideof its high part, such shoe being adapted either to depress positivelysaid rod at the end of the down stroke of the latter, through the mediumof the other of said members, or to act without thus depressing saidrod, according to the lowness of the descent of said rod.

2. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a rotary shat't having apair of cams tight thereon, each of said cams being provided with a shoeon one side of its high part, a fixed shaft, and a pair of cam armsmounted on said fixed shaft and arranged to bear 011 the cams, of a pairoi. folding-plunger rods mounted for vertical motion in the machine,rods connecting said cam arms with said folding-plunger rods, and rodsconnected at their upper ends with said folding-plunger rods andprovided with members carried in the paths of the shoes on said cams.

3. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a rotary shaft having apair of cams tight thereon, each of said cams being provided with a shoeon one side of its high part, a fixed shaft, and a pair of cam armsmounted on said fixed shaft and arranged to bear on the cams, of a pairof folding-plunger rods mounted "for vert' cal motion in the machine,rods comiecting said cam arms with said folding-plunger rods, rodsconnected at their upper ends with said folding-plunger rods andprovided with members carried in the paths oi the shoes on said cams,and pivotallyanounted upwardly spring-pressed arms pivotally connectedwith said last-mentioned connecting-rods.

4:. In an envelop machine, the combination, with a table, ofenvelop-discharge mechanisn'i comprising a trap, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams on suchsha'l't, connections between the other end of said trap and one of saidcams, and connections between said trap at the end where saidfirstmentioned connections are. attached and the other of said cams, theconstruction and arrangement of parts being such that said. trap isdepressed and inclined out of the horizontal at the lower end of itstravel only.

In an envelop machine, the combination, with a table, ofenvelop-discharge mechanism comprising a trap, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams on suchshaft, connections between the other end of said trap and one of saidcams, and connections bet ween said trap at the en d where saidfirstmentioned connections are attached and the other of said cams, theconstructirm and arrangement of parts being such that said cams maintainsaid trap normally in a horizontal position, but pern'iit it to descendfirst without tilting and then cause it to tilt as it continues todescend.

(i. in an envelop machine, the combination, with a table, ofenvelop-discharge mechanism comprising a trap, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams mountedon such sha'lt, connections between the other end ot said trap and oneof said cams. a knock-oll' linger operativcly connected with said. trapand said last-mentiomal connections, and connections between said trapat the end where said first mentioned connections are attached and theother of said cams, the construction and arrangement of parts being suchthat said finger is operated only after said trap has made a partialdescent.

7. In an envelop machine, the combination, with a table, ofenvelop-discharge mechanism comprising a trap, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams on suchshaft, connections bet ween the other end of said trap and one of saidcams, a knock-elf finger opcratively connected with said trap and saidlast-mentioned connections, and connections between said trap at the endwhere said iirst-mentioned connections are attached and the other ofsaid cams, the constructnm and arrangement of parts being such thattwomotions are imparted while descending to said trap by said cams, andsaid finger is actuated while one only of such motions is taking place.

8. in an envelop machine, the combination, with a table, ofenvelop-discharge mechanism comprising a trap, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams on suchshaft, connections bchwren the other end of said trap and one of saidcams, a knock-elf finger operatively connected with said trap and saidlast-mentioned connections, and connections between said trap at the endwhere said first-mentioned connections are at tached and the other ofsaid cams, the construction and arrangement oil? parts being such thatsaid trap, when permitted to de scend by said cams, is inclined out ofthe horizontal and said finger is operated at the lower end only of thetravel of said trap.

9. In an envelop machine, the combination, with a table, ofenvelop-discharge mechanism comprising a trap provided wit-h a knock-offfinger, pivotal connections be tween said table and one end of saidtrap, a shaft, two cams on such shaft, connections between the other endof said trap and said finger and one of said cams, and connectionsbetween said trap at the end where said first-mentioned connections areattached and the other of said cams, said cams being adapted to maintainsaid trap normally in a horizontal position with said finger inactive,and to permit said trap to descend for a distance while in suchposition, with said finger still inactive, and then to descend fartherand at the same time tilt and said finger to be actuated.

10. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table having anopening therethrough, of a folding-bed or trap adapted to operate in andout of such opening from below, link connections between said trap andtable, cam-operated connections piv otally attached to said trap, a headpivotally attached to said trap in front of said firstmentioned pivotalattachment provided with rests arranged to support said trap at the rearwhen said trap is in a horizontal position, and cam-operated connectionsattached to said head.

11. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table having anopening therethrough, of a folding-bed or trap adapted to operate in andout of such opening from below, link connections between such trap andtable, cam-operated connections pivotally attached to said trap, a headpivotally attached to said trap in front of said firstmentioned pivotalattachment and provided with projecting members, cam-operatedconnections attached to said head, and knockoff fingers operativelyconnected with said trap and projecting members.

12. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table having anopening therethrough, a folding-bed or trap arranged to operate in andout of such opening from below, links pivotally connecting such trapwith such table, two suitably mounted camarms, and connecting meansbetween such arms and the trap, the connect-ions between the trap andone of the arms being in advance of those between the trap and the otherof such arms, of suitablymounted operating cams for said arms. such camsbeing adapted to lower the trap for a distance while said trap is in ahorizontal position and then to tilt it.

13. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table having anopening therethrough, a slotted folding-bed or trap arranged to operatein and out of such open ing from below, links pivotally connecting suchtrap with such table, two suitablymounted cam-arms, connecting meansbetween such arms and the trap, the connections between the trap and oneof the arms being in advance of those between the trap and the other ofsuch arms, and knock-oft fingers pivotally attached within the trap inoperative relation to the slotted portions thereof and operativelyconnected with the aforesaid advanced connections bet-ween trap andcam-arm, the arrangement of parts being such that said fingers arethrust through the slots in the trap when the latter is tilted, ofsuitably-mounted cams for said arms, such cams beng adapted to lower thetrap for a distance while said trap is in a hori Zontal position andthen to tilt it.

14. The combination, in an envelop ma chine, with a table, afolding-plunger, and a chute, of a trap interposed between said plungerand chute, pivotal connections be tween said table and one end of saidtrap, a shaft, two cams on such shaft, and connections between said trapand said first-mentioned connections on the one hand and the oppositeend of said trap on the other hand and said cams, whereby said trap whendepressed is first maintained in a horizontal position in its descentand then tilted.

15. The combination, in an envelop ma chine, with a table, afolding-plunger, and a chute, of a trap interposed between said plungerand chute and provided with a knock-off finger, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams on suchshaft, connections between the opposite end of said trap and said fingerand one of said cams, and connections between said trap at the end wheresaid first-mentioned connections are attached and the other of saidcams, whereby said trap when depressed is first maintained in ahorizontal position in its descent and then tilted and said fingercaused to be 0perated.

16. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table, afolding-plunger, positive means to depress said plunger, and a chute, ofa trap interposed between said plunger and chute, pivotal connectionsbetween said table and one end of said trap, a shaft, two cams on suchshaft, and connections between said trap and said firstmentionedconnections and the opposite end of said trap and said cams, wherebysaid trap is depressed, after the operation of such positive means, andwhen depressed is first maintained in a horizontal position and thentilted.

17. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table, a trap,pivotal connections between said table and trap, a shaft, two cams onsuch shaft, and connections between said trap at the front and backthereof and said cams, whereby said trap when depressed is firstmaintained in a horizontal position and then tilted, of afolding-plunger arranged to follow said trap in its initial descent.

18. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a table, a trap,pivotal connections between said table and trap, a shaft, two cams onsuch shaft, connections between said trap at the front and back thereofand said cams, whereby said trap when depressed is firstmaintained in ahorizontal position and then tilted, of a folding plunger, andplunger-operating mechanism capable of positively forcing said plungeronto said trap, before the latter descends, and then permitting saidplunger to descend by gravity.

19. In an envelop machine, envelop-delivery mechanism comprising anoscillating presser-arm, a back stop for the envelops at the bottom,andv independent of but; having a part in the path of said arm andoperated and controlled by said arm to depress said stop before anenvelop swept forward by said arm arrives at said stop, and to elevatethe latter when said arm reaches the end of its forward stroke.

20. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a chute, a receivingtrough, and an oscillating presser-arm adapted to deliver envelops fromsaid chute to said trough, of a back-stop mounted below the floor of thetrough and arranged to project normally above such floor, and operatingmechanism adapted to depress said stop ahead of an advancing envelop andto release said stop and permit it to rise behind such envelop, suchmechanism being independent of but having a part which extends into thepath of said arm.

21. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a chute, a receivingtrough, and an oscillating presser-arm adapted to deliver envelops fromsaid chute to said trough, of reciprocating and oscillating back-stopsmounted below the floor of the trough and arranged to project normallyabove such floor, bell-crank-levers pivotally connected with said stopsand provided with pins at their free terminals, and a loosely-mountedbackwardly-springpressed bar having a cam-head and provided with amember which extends into the path of said presserarm, said cam-headbeing positioned normally behind said pins and capable of acting throughthem, when said bar is forced forward against the resiliency of itsspring by the arm, on said bell-crankdevers to remove the stops from thepath of an advancing envelop, and then, when the bar is released by thearm to the spring, of riding over the pins and again dropping into placebehind them.

22. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a chute, a receivingtrough, and an oscillating presser-arm provided with a plate adapted todeliver envelops from said chute to said trough, said plate having slotsin the bottom, of reciprocating and oscillating back-stops mounted belowthe floor of the trough and arranged to project normally above suchfloor, each of such stops being in line with one of the slots in saidplate, bellcrank-levers pivotally connected with said stops and providedwith pins at their free terminals, and a loosely-mountedbackwardly-spring-pressed bar having a camhead and provided with amember which extends into the path of said presser-arm, said cam-headbeing positioned normally behind said pins and capable of acting throughthem, when said bar is forced forward against the resiliency of itsspring by the arm, on said bell-erailk-levers to remove the stops fromthe path of an advancing envelop, and then, when the bar is released bythe arm to the spring, of riding over the pins and again dropping intoplace behind them.

23. The combination, in an envelop machine, with a chute, a receivingtrough, and an oscillating presser-arm adapted to deliver envelops fromsaid chute to said trough, of reciprocating and oscillating back-stopsmounted below the floor of the trough and arranged to project normallyabove such floor, bell-crank-levers pivotally connected with said stopsand provided with pins at their free terminals, a. loosely-mountedbackwardly-spring-pressed bar having a camhead and provided with amember which extends into the path of said presser-arm, and means tolimit the backward movement of such bar, said cam-head being positionednormally behind said pins and capable of acting through them, when saidbar is forced forward against the resiliency of its spring by the arm,on said bell-crank'levers to remove the stops from the path of theadvancing envelop, and then, when the bar is released by the arm to thespring, of riding over the pins and again dropping into place behindthem.

2 The combination, in an envelop machine, with the frame of the machine,and supporting rods depending therefrom for a chute, of a chute, andmeans to attach said chute to said rods and to adjust it up or down,forward or backward, and laterally.

GEORGE P. TAYLOR.

\Vitnesses F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS.

